After being allowed into the racially exclusive SA Amateur Athletics Union, Matthews Motshwarateu, breaks the national 5,000m record

Date: 15 Apr 1978
Updated: 15 Apr 2026

Matthews Motshwarateu and Xolile Yawa tussle for the lead

Black athlete Matthews Motshwarateu, recently allowed into the racially exclusive SA Amatuer Athletics Union, breaks the national 5 000m record in Stellenbosch, so entering the annals of South African athletics.

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01Morgan, B., Mathews 'Loop-en-Val' Motshwarateu, from SouthAfrica.info, [online], Available at www.southafrica.info [Accessed: 15 April 2014]
02Mayer, R., (2013), Loop en Val's lonely long-distance career, from Mail&Guardian, 19 April [online], Available at mg.co.za [Accessed: 15 April 2014]

Last updated · 15 Apr 2026

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). After being allowed into the racially exclusive SA Amateur Athletics Union, Matthews Motshwarateu, breaks the national 5,000m record. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012191

South African History Online (2011) 'After being allowed into the racially exclusive SA Amateur Athletics Union, Matthews Motshwarateu, breaks the national 5,000m record', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012191 (Accessed: 2 October 2026).

South African History Online, After being allowed into the racially exclusive SA Amateur Athletics Union, Matthews Motshwarateu, breaks the national 5,000m record [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012191, (accessed 2 October 2026).

"After being allowed into the racially exclusive SA Amateur Athletics Union, Matthews Motshwarateu, breaks the national 5,000m record." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012191. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "After being allowed into the racially exclusive SA Amateur Athletics Union, Matthews Motshwarateu, breaks the national 5,000m record." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012191.